Texas A&M University at Galveston Hosts 8th Annual Texas Plastic Pollution Symposium
The event featured numerous presentations aimed at addressing the impact of plastics on the environment
Dr. David Hala, associate professor of marine biology at Texas A&M University at Galveston, Dr. Antonietta Quigg, Regents Professor of marine biology at Texas A&M University at Galveston, Dr. Karl Kaiser, professor of marine and coastal environmental science at Texas A&M at University at Galveston and Dr. Kim De Wolff associate professor of philosophy at the University of North Texas shared details on how plastic pollution moves through Gulf ecosystems in a panel discussion moderated by Brandi Keller, Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension and Texas Sea Grant Marine and Coastal Agent.
On March 25, hundreds of representatives from the community, non-profit organizations, as well as state and federal agencies assembled at Texas A&M University at Galveston for the 8th Annual Texas Plastic Pollution Symposium to discuss just one word – Plastics.
Texas A&M University at Galveston researchers Dr. David Hala, Dr. Antonietta Quigg, and Dr. Karl Kaiser joined colleagues from across the region to shed light on the growing plastic pollution problem impacting coastal communities and marine ecosystems. The proliferation of plastic pollution has far-reaching implications for every step of the food chain, from microorganisms to apex predators like dolphins and humans. If the old saying, we are what we eat is true, then many links in the food chain are being impacted by plastic pollution. One of the animals impacted by plastic pollution are endangered sea turtles.
“Sea turtles cannot tell the difference between a jellyfish or a piece of plastic, which makes them susceptible to ingesting plastic,” said Carolyn Pope, Program Manager, Marine Debris Program with Texas A&M University at Galveston’s Gulf Center for Sea Turtle Research.
Pope noted that plastic found on the shore with a diamond-shaped hole in it is often a sign that a sea turtle has taken a bite out of the plastic. While consuming plastic in large quantities may make a turtle or other marine animal feel full, it provides zero nutritional value and can lead to myriad health impacts. In addition to risks from ingesting plastic, marine ecosystems and the animals that call them home also face impacts from fishing lines, nets, and other debris discarded by humans. A so called ghost net can trap and kill marine life for many years after it has been introduced into a marine environment.
While it is known that plastic pollution is a problem, finding a solution is easier said than done. During a panel discussion about how plastic pollution moves through Gulf ecosystems and communities, Dr. David Hala, associate professor of marine biology at Texas A&M University at Galveston, Dr. Antonietta Quigg, Regents Professor of marine biology at Texas A&M University at Galveston, Dr. Karl Kaiser, professor of marine and coastal environmental science at Texas A&M at University at Galveston and Dr. Kim De Wolff associate professor of philosophy at the University of North Texas each noted that it will take herculean efforts by communities and industries to tackle the plastic pollution problem.
While a plethora of efforts are undertaken each year to remove plastic from marine ecosystems, the pace of production of plastics far outpaces the collection of plastics.
The Texas Gulf Coast is a particularly large source of plastic pollution based on the amount of plastic that is manufactured in the region, as well as the number of plastics that are used by the large population of residents and tourists along the coast.
“Most of the production of plastics has been outsourced to other countries,” said Dr. Kaiser. “However, thanks to the availability of cheap natural gas in Texas, plastic is produced in large quantities.”
Texas is the largest plastic-producing state in the United States. The Gulf Coast region dominates the plastic production industry and creates roughly 84% of total U.S. plastics. Waste runoff from facilities, along with the release of pre-production pellets known as nurdles, increases the amount of plastic in the environment. Another source of microplastic pollution comes from fibers from synthetic clothing. Finding ways to capture the fibers generated by the fast fashion industry, both at the point of manufacturing as well as through filters in consumer washing machines, will help mitigate the amount of microplastics entering the water.
While the quest to tackle the problem of plastic pollution might feel at times like one is merely tilting at windmills, the symposium featured myriad presentations by researchers, scientists, and students outlining the scope of the problem of plastic pollution and more importantly ways to address it. While the effort is focused on one word, plastics, many individuals and organizations are working tirelessly to find a solution.
